Universal Screening

Implementation across the Country

Over the past decade, the implementation of Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SW-PBIS) has been scaling up across the country, due in no small part of the efforts of statewide initiatives such as those in Maryland, Illinois, Florida, Colorado, New Hampshire, and Vermont. With implementation in more than 10,000 schools across the United States, SW-PBIS has reached a tipping point and become the most common framework for supporting student behavior in the history of American public schooling.

SW-PBIS is organized using a multi-tiered framework of universal (Tier I), targeted (Tier II) and intensive (Tier III) prevention designed to support all students. The evidence suggests that schools across the country, including those in New Hampshire and Vermont, are making progress in implementing the features of primary prevention at Tier I with fidelity. Moreover, implementation is leading to positive changes in school climate and culture as well as reductions in problem behavior and the use of suspensions.

Unfortunately, implementing the features of secondary prevention at Tier II has been more elusive. One possible reason is that schools have historically waited too long to address student behavior – preferring a reactive approach after behavior problems have become more chronic and intense to a proactive one that catches the problem early and can more easily reverse the negative trajectory for students.

The purpose of this presentation is to describe the features and provide examples of an early nomination and activation system that has been used in schools across New Hampshire and other states determine students who have not responded to core instruction for behavior. Participants will learn the three pathways (teacher nomination, behavioral indicators, and systematic screening) used for the early identification of those students at risk of school failure and how Tier II teams are using that data to match students to appropriate evidenced-based interventions and supports. Examples of procedures, forms, and screening data will be shared along with lessons learned from implementation in NH.

This presentation was developed by: Howard Muscott (New Hampshire Center for Effective Behavioral Interventions and Supports at SERESC), Jesse Suter (University of Vermont, Center on Disability and Community Inclusion), and Tiffany Cassano (VTPBIS Trainer and Coach)